Prevalence and clinical characterization of malnutrition, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases: SENIOR cross-sectional study
13 affiliations
- 1Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- 2Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Unit of Clinical Nutrition, Pavia, Italy
- 3National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
- 4Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- 5Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
- 6Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- 7Institute of Molecular Genetics, National Research Council of Italy, Pavia, Italy
- 8Quironsalud Hospital Sagrado Corazón, Sevilla, Spain
- 9Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Unit of Internal Medicine, Pavia, Italy
- 100First Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- 111SC Coordinamento, Supporto e Monitoraggio della Ricerca clinica e Sperimentale, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- 122School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- 133Department of Occupational Health, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
Abstract
Malnutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity may coexist with excess adiposity and cardiometabolic diseases in aging populations, but their combined burden and inflammatory profile remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined their prevalence and overlap in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases and explored associations with metabolic syndrome, multidimensional health-related factors and inflammation. In this cross-sectional study 303 Caucasian adults aged ≥ 65 years were recruited from a General Medicine ward and an Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases outpatient clinic in Northern Italy. Malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and metabolic syndrome were identified according to the GLIM, EWGSOP2, ESPEN/EASO, and IDF criteria, respectively. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, body composition, lifestyle, functional, psychological, and biochemical variables were collected using standardized procedures. CRP, WBC, platelet counts, prealbumin, uric acid, and circulating cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β) provided complementary information on inflammatory, nutritional, and metabolic status. The prevalence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, probable sarcopenia, and metabolic syndrome was 39.9%, 30.9%, 9.4%, 42.6%, and 60.1%, respectively, and was generally higher in inpatients. 13.2% of malnourished patients suffered from overweight or obesity, while malnutrition and sarcopenia overlapped in 29.2%. Older age, functional dependence, poorer physical health-related quality of life, and BMI class were associated with malnutrition or sarcopenia, whereas sarcopenic obesity was associated with age 75–84 years and low physical activity. Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity. Higher circulating IL-6 concentrations were observed in older participants and in those with sarcopenic obesity or metabolic syndrome. Malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent and overlapping conditions among older adults with cardiometabolic diseases, especially in hospitalized patients. Excess body weight does not exclude nutritional or muscle impairment, thus integrated assessment is needed to identify vulnerable older adults and guide targeted interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{santero2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and clinical characterization of malnutrition, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases: SENIOR cross-sectional study}},
author = {Sara Santero and Federica Bolpagni and Federica Bolpagni and Federica Bolpagni and Sara Boussetta and Francesca Coperchini and Francesca Coperchini and Ginevra Biino and Nagaia Madini and Cecilia Ricciardi Rizzo and Flavia Magri and Flavia Magri and Mario Rotondi and Mario Rotondi and Alessandra Vincenti and Alice Beretta and Giulia Viroli and Matteo Manuelli and Maria Luisa Fonte and Ilaria Di Napoli and Donatella Corvino and Pasquale De Cata and Antonio Di Sabatino and Antonio Di Sabatino and Anna Giulia Falchi and Ilaria Ferrari and Alessandra Marchese and Marco Vincenzo Lenti and Marco Vincenzo Lenti and Federica Lepore and Francesco Mordà and Mariangela Delliponti and Maria Emilia Paladino and Maria Emilia Paladino and Michele A Riva and Michele A Riva and Hellas Cena and Hellas Cena},
journal = {Frontiers in Nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fnut.2026.1927628},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1927628},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and clinical characterization of malnutrition, sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases: SENIOR cross-sectional study
AU - Sara Santero
AU - Federica Bolpagni
AU - Federica Bolpagni
AU - Federica Bolpagni
AU - Sara Boussetta
AU - Francesca Coperchini
AU - Francesca Coperchini
AU - Ginevra Biino
AU - Nagaia Madini
AU - Cecilia Ricciardi Rizzo
AU - Flavia Magri
AU - Flavia Magri
AU - Mario Rotondi
AU - Mario Rotondi
AU - Alessandra Vincenti
AU - Alice Beretta
AU - Giulia Viroli
AU - Matteo Manuelli
AU - Maria Luisa Fonte
AU - Ilaria Di Napoli
AU - Donatella Corvino
AU - Pasquale De Cata
AU - Antonio Di Sabatino
AU - Antonio Di Sabatino
AU - Anna Giulia Falchi
AU - Ilaria Ferrari
AU - Alessandra Marchese
AU - Marco Vincenzo Lenti
AU - Marco Vincenzo Lenti
AU - Federica Lepore
AU - Francesco Mordà
AU - Mariangela Delliponti
AU - Maria Emilia Paladino
AU - Maria Emilia Paladino
AU - Michele A Riva
AU - Michele A Riva
AU - Hellas Cena
AU - Hellas Cena
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in Nutrition
DO - 10.3389/fnut.2026.1927628
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1927628
AB - Malnutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity may coexist with excess adiposity and cardiometabolic diseases in aging populations, but their combined burden and inflammatory profile remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined their prevalence and overlap in older adults with cardiometabolic diseases and explored associations with metabolic syndrome, multidimensional health-related factors and inflammation. In this cross-sectional study 303 Caucasian adults aged ≥ 65 years were recruited from a General Medicine ward and an Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases outpatient clinic in Northern Italy. Malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and metabolic syndrome were identified according to the GLIM, EWGSOP2, ESPEN/EASO, and IDF criteria, respectively. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, body composition, lifestyle, functional, psychological, and biochemical variables were collected using standardized procedures. CRP, WBC, platelet counts, prealbumin, uric acid, and circulating cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β) provided complementary information on inflammatory, nutritional, and metabolic status. The prevalence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, probable sarcopenia, and metabolic syndrome was 39.9%, 30.9%, 9.4%, 42.6%, and 60.1%, respectively, and was generally higher in inpatients. 13.2% of malnourished patients suffered from overweight or obesity, while malnutrition and sarcopenia overlapped in 29.2%. Older age, functional dependence, poorer physical health-related quality of life, and BMI class were associated with malnutrition or sarcopenia, whereas sarcopenic obesity was associated with age 75–84 years and low physical activity. Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with malnutrition, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity. Higher circulating IL-6 concentrations were observed in older participants and in those with sarcopenic obesity or metabolic syndrome. Malnutrition, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent and overlapping conditions among older adults with cardiometabolic diseases, especially in hospitalized patients. Excess body weight does not exclude nutritional or muscle impairment, thus integrated assessment is needed to identify vulnerable older adults and guide targeted interventions.
SN - 2296-861X
ER -